Chennai, Aug 21:
The long-running Cauvery water dispute took centre stage at the 31st Southern Zonal Council meeting near Chennai, with Karnataka Chief Minister D K Shivakumar backing the proposed Mekedatu dam project and the DMK accusing Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay of failing to directly oppose it.
DMK MP Dayanidhi Maran alleged that while Shivakumar openly spoke in favour of constructing the Mekedatu dam, Vijay, who was present at the meeting, remained silent on the issue.
“At the meeting of southern chief ministers held in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka Chief Minister DK Shivakumar openly spoke in favour of constructing the Mekedatu dam. However, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay, who was present there, remained silent without uttering a single word in opposition,” Maran said.
Vijay, however, stressed the need to protect the rights of lower riparian states. Addressing the meeting chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, he said any intervention by an upper riparian state that could affect the fair share of a lower riparian state should be undertaken only within the legal framework.
The Mekedatu project has remained a major point of contention between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, with Tamil Nadu maintaining that additional water storage by Karnataka could affect downstream supplies, particularly during deficient rainfall years.
Shivakumar, meanwhile, sought to allay concerns, saying Karnataka had assured Tamil Nadu and Puducherry that their interests would be protected. He said a portion of the proposed reservoir’s water would be earmarked for drinking water needs, while the remaining water would flow to Tamil Nadu.
Calling for a shift from “water sharing” to “water cooperation”, Shivakumar said rivers should unite states rather than become sources of political conflict.
The latest exchange comes amid concerns over Cauvery water releases during a rain-deficient year. Tamil Nadu had earlier moved the Supreme Court seeking enforcement of directions for Karnataka to release Cauvery water as ordered by the Cauvery Water Management Authority.
The Mekedatu project, proposed near Kanakapura in Karnataka, is planned as a multipurpose balancing reservoir. Karnataka has maintained that the project would provide drinking water to Bengaluru and surrounding areas and generate hydroelectric power, while Tamil Nadu continues to oppose it over concerns about its impact on downstream water availability.